Examples of Binary Salts
Chemical compounds that are formed by mixing a metal and a non-metal are called binary salts . Another way binary salts are known is as neutral salts.
It is interesting to note that these chemical compounds are derived from hydracids , which implies that they emanate from amphiphic atoms (selenium, sulfur, polonium, and tellurium) with hydrogen (H) or halogens (bromine, fluorine, chlorine, tenese, astate and iodine).
When it comes to a binary salt, you must remember that the lowest valence will always be used by the non-metallic element.
“The typical example of a binary salt is sodium chloride.”
The structure of sodium chloride is that of a differential material, where hydrogen is replaced by a metal. It is at that moment when the mixture is made up with the contribution of amphogens or halogens, and their metallic counterpart.
This shows us that there can be several types of binary salts, a consequence of the combination. Among the different classes of binary salts, we can mention the following: astatides, chloride, tellurides, iodide, sulfides, selenides, bromide, fluoride, among others.
Formula of binary salts
In chemistry everything has a reason, the formula is what shows where the combination of elements emanates from.
In this case, as we have mentioned, it comes from a metallic element and a non-metallic element. It is a reaction that arises from the following formula: “MiXj”
It is so,
- M : It is the chemical nomenclature that represents the metal.
- i : It is the valence of the non-metallic element.
- X : It is the chemical nomenclature of non-metal.
- j : It is the valence of the metallic element.
Regardless of the nomenclature used, the metallic element is the one that must always be named first and then the non-metallic element.
10 examples of binary salts
In our day to day, binary salts are present. In fact, they are more common than you might imagine, which is why we will describe the use for each of the binary salts below.
- NaCl: Sodium chloride: It is in all your foods: table salt or common salt. Its appearance is crystalline, white in color is also useful for preserving food.
- CaBr2 Calcium bromide: It is used in medicines for neurosis, but also for frozen mixtures, as it is a great preservative for food. It is also used in photography and as a fire retardant.
- FeCl3: Iron trichloride: It is widely used to apply it in the industrial area, such as drinking water or wastewater treatment plants. Another characteristic use of this binary salt is in the manufacture of printed circuit boards, which is part of electronics.
- AlF3: Aluminum Fluoride: When mixing high temperatures with aluminum oxide, this salt will become the element that will help to obtain aluminum, for which electrolysis should be used.
- CoS: Cobalt Sulfide: This salt is particular, since it is used to make inks and pigments that are also used in porcelain and manual works with glass. In addition, it is also used as a support during the preparation of other cobalt salts.
- MgS: Magnesium Sulfide: If you wanted to know which is one of the components that is used in the preparation of the flavoring, it is the magnesium sulfide that sometimes performs this function. The way how you can achieve this is if it is mixed with water, since it produces magnesium hydroxide and with it use it as a flavoring or antacid.
- PbS2: Lead disulfide: The chemical reactions that this substance uses are to help separate compounds into the pure elements, which are sulfur and lead.
- KBr: Potassium bromide: The treatment of animals is different from that of us human beings, that is why the components are also different. In this case, Potassium Bromide is used in veterinary drugs. Its function is to prevent animals from convulsing or having epileptic seizures.
- CoSO4: Cobalt Sulfate: If you see the similar name to cobalt sulfide, it is because they are analogous. In this case it is also used for the production of special pigments that are used in glass and porcelain work.
- CaI2: Calcium Iodide: This binary salt is part of the health area, since it is eventually used to make expectorant syrups to combat coughs.